Gold retreats

Spot gold is consolidating after retreating below $1600/ounce on the hourly chart. Breach of short-term support at $1590 would warn of a down-swing to test medium-term support at $1550 — and primary support at $1500.

Spot GoldOn the monthly chart we can see that breach of $1500 would signal a primary down-trend. A 63-day Twiggs Momentum fall below -10% would also suggest a primary down-trend, while reversal above zero would suggest further ranging between $1500 and $1800.
Spot Gold

Silver is also headed for a test of primary support — at $26/ounce — but 63-day Twiggs Momentum respect of -10% would continue the long-term bullish divergence, suggesting a new up-trend.
Spot Gold

I am not yet convinced that gold is headed for a primary down-trend. We may be in a low-inflation/deflationary environment right now but how long will it take for central bank expansionary policies to overcome this? Watch out for bear traps. Respect of primary support around $1500 could present a buying opportunity.

Crude Oil

Jeremy Grantham (GMO) reminds us, in a recent BBC interview, not to underestimate the importance of crude oil. Crude represents roughly half of the cost (extraction, shipping, etc.) of other major commodities traded, but crude oil itself also represents half of the value of all commodities traded. When crude prices rise they do serious harm to the global economy.

Brent Crude retreated below support at $117/barrel, on concerns over the global economy. Expect medium-term support at $90/barrel for Nymex and $112/barrel for Brent crude (the green line) but only failure of primary support at $84 and $106 would signal a primary down-trend. Falling crude would be a bearish sign for gold: demand for gold increases when crude rises.

US Dollar Index

Gold falls sharply

Gold is headed for another test of primary support at $1525 after breaking support at $1625. Breach of $1525 would signal a primary down-trend. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum breakout below -10% would strengthen the signal, while reversal above zero would suggest further ranging between $1500 and $1800.

Spot Gold

Brent Crude remains above $117/barrel, signaling a primary up-trend. Recovery of Nymex WTI above $99/barrel would confirm. Narrow consolidation below the resistance level is a bullish sign.

US Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 116 + ( 116 – 106 ) = 126

The gold-oil ratio is falling. Decline below 10 is a long-term buying signal for gold. In recent years fluctuations have been a lot narrower and a fall below 12 may be sufficient.
Spot Gold

I am not yet convinced that gold is headed for a primary down-trend. Watch out for bear traps. Respect of primary support around $1500 seems as likely — and would present a buying opportunity.

Gold weakens while crude rises

Gold is undergoing a correction on the weekly chart. Breach of support at 1625 would indicate another test of primary support at $1525. Retreat of 63-day Twiggs Momentum below zero warns of a primary down-trend. Recovery above $1700 per ounce, however, would indicate that the correction is over.

Spot Gold

Crude oil, however, is rising, with Brent Crude breaking resistance at $117/barrel to signal a primary up-trend. Twiggs Momentum rising above zero already suggests an up-trend. Recovery of Nymex WTI above $99/barrel would confirm.

US Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 116 + ( 116 – 106 ) = 126

Normally gold and crude move together. A divergence would be highlighted by the gold-oil ratio (below). A decline to 10 is normally taken as buying signal, but in recent years fluctuations have been a lot narrower — between 12 and 18.
Spot Gold

Gold and commodities rising

Gold is forming a base between $1650 and $1700/ounce on the daily chart. Upward breakout would offer an initial target of $1750/ounce. Oscillation of 63-day Twiggs Momentum close to the zero line indicates consolidation but beware of a peak below zero — or reversal below $1650 on the spot chart — which would warn of another down-swing.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1700 + ( 1700 – 1650 ) = 1750

Silver displays a similar long-term pattern to gold, albeit with a sharper spike in 2011. Bullish divergence on 63-day Twiggs Momentum suggests an up-trend. Breakout above $35/ounce ($1800 in the case of gold) would signal a long-term advance.

Silver

Brent and Nymex crude both threaten an upward breakout from their recent consolidation — which would signal a primary advance to their 2012 highs.

Crude Oil

Commodity prices are also improving, with Dow Jones-UBS Commodity index displaying a bullish divergence on 63-day Twiggs Momentum. Breakout above 150 would complete an inverted head and shoulders reversal with a target of 175. Rising commodities — other than gold and oil where other factors need to be considered — would suggest a recovering global economy and further gains for stocks in the year ahead.

US Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 150 + ( 150 – 125 ) = 175

Is gold really undervalued?

I agree with James Turk that gold is a currency. It does not generate income and is simply a store of value. Demand for gold will rise in times of uncertainty and when fiat currencies, against which it is traded, are being debased by central bank balance sheet expansion. Now central banks have been printing money since the global financial crisis in 2008, so why is gold not soaring into the stratosphere as Turk predicts?

Spot Gold

The answer lies with global deleveraging. Central banks are attempting to counter the strong deflationary effect of private sector debt repayment. The inflationary effect of their activities is largely offset by deflationary forces emanating from the GFC. If we compare the performance of gold to the CRB and DJ-UBS Commodity Indices it is clear that most commodities have not risen in tandem with gold and there is little evidence of inflation.

US Dollar Index

Copper recovered after the GFC but also seems to have hit a ceiling.

US Dollar Index

Only Brent Crude shows similar price escalation to gold. Nymex WTI Crude is far more subdued.

US Dollar Index

Without strong inflation, gold is unlikely to continue its meteoric rise. More so if there is a down-turn in crude oil and copper. Watch closely.

Gold and commodities find support

A look at the long-term (monthly) chart shows gold undergoing a correction before encountering support at $1650/ounce. Recovery above $1700 would re-test resistance at $1800, the higher trough suggesting resumption of the primary up-trend. Breakout above $1800 would confirm. A 63-day Twiggs Momentum trough close to the zero line would strengthen the signal, while reversal below zero would suggest that the 5-year bull-trend is over and a test of primary support at $1500 likely.

Spot Gold

Commodity Prices are a good predictor of stock market performance. Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index retreated from 150 but support around 140 would indicate another attempt at a breakout — and recovery above 144 would strengthen the signal. Rising Twiggs Momentum suggests a primary up-trend but only breakout above 152 would confirm.

US Dollar Index

Gold and the dollar

Gold is undergoing a correction on the weekly chart. Declining momentum and breach of the long-term rising trendline suggest that the 5-year bull-trend is ending, but recovery above $1700 per ounce would indicate one more attempt at $1800 resistance. Respect of $1700, however, would indicate a test of primary support at the May 2012 low at $1525.

Spot Gold

The Dollar Index respected resistance at 81 and is likely to re-test primary support at 78.50. Twiggs Momentum oscillating below zero already indicates a primary down-trend — confirmed if primary support is broken. Recovery above 81.50 remains unlikely, but would indicate an advance to 84.

US Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 78.5 – ( 81.5 – 78.5 ) = 75.5

Gold breaks $1700

Gold broke support at $1700 per ounce, indicating a test of primary support at $1675. Breakout would offer an initial target of $1600*, with a long-term target of the May 2012 low at $1525. Declining 63-day Twiggs Momentum indicates weakness but values above zero still reflect a primary up-trend and the weakening dollar suggests strong support.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1675 – ( 1750 – 1675 ) = 1600

The Dollar Index broke medium-term support at 80 on the weekly chart while the dollar is approaching its September low against the euro. The 63-day Twiggs Momentum peak below zero indicates a primary down-trend — confirmed if primary support at 78.50 is broken. Recovery above 81.50 is most unlikely but would indicate an advance to 84.

US Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 78.5 – ( 81.5 – 78.5 ) = 75.5

The daily chart shows retracement to confirm resistance at 80.

US Dollar Index

Gold long tail as dollar retreats

Yesterday’s long tail on the spot gold daily chart indicates support at $1700 per ounce. Recovery above $1750 would signal another test of $1800. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum well above zero continues to indicate a healthy up-trend. A weakening dollar would strengthen the signal.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1800 + ( 1800 – 1700 ) = 1900

The Dollar Index (weekly chart) is testing medium-term support at 80. Failure would threaten a head-and-shoulders reversal. Breach of primary support at 78.50 would offer a target of 74*. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum holding below zero already suggests a primary down-trend. Recovery above 81.50 is unlikely but would indicate an advance to 84.

US Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 79 – ( 84 – 79 ) = 74

The DJ-UBS Commodity Index (weekly chart) respected support at 140, helped by the weaker dollar. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum above zero suggests a primary up-trend but reversal would re-test primary support at 126.

DJ-UBS Commodity Index

Nymex WTI Light Crude and ICE Brent Crude both trend downwards but the gap between the two is widening. Middle East tensions affect Brent Crude supply more than its West Texas cousin. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum holding below zero warns of a primary down-trend. Breach of primary support would confirm: WTI at $78 per barrel and Brent Crude at $90.

Nymex WTI Light Crude

Gold strengthens as dollar retreats

Long tails on the last two days of the spot gold daily chart indicate strong support at $1700 per ounce. Breakout above $1740 would indicate another test of $1800. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum well above zero suggests a healthy up-trend. A weakening dollar would strengthen the signal.

Spot Gold

* Target calculation: 1800 + ( 1800 – 1700 ) = 1900

The Dollar Index (weekly chart) retreated below resistance at 81. Follow-through below 80 would test primary support at 78.50, while failure of primary support would complete a head-and-shoulders reversal with a target of 74*. 63-Day Twiggs Momentum holding below zero already suggests a primary down-trend. Breakout above 81.50 is unlikely but would indicate an advance to 84.

US Dollar Index

* Target calculation: 79 – ( 84 – 79 ) = 74

The DJ-UBS Commodity Index (weekly chart) respected support at 140. The 63-day Twiggs Momentum trough above zero suggests a primary up-trend. A weakening dollar would strengthen the signal, while breakout above 152 would confirm. Breach of 140 is unlikely but would test primary support at 126.

DJ-UBS Commodity Index

Nymex WTI Light Crude and ICE Brent Crude are both trending downward. The 63-day Twiggs Momentum peak at zero warns of a primary down-trend. Breach of primary support would confirm: WTI at $78 per barrel and Brent Crude at $90.

Nymex WTI Light Crude